Avalanche Forecast for Saturday, January 5, 2019

This forecast was published 01/05/2019 at 7:07 AM.
A new forecast will be issued tomorrow.

NOT THE CURRENT FORECAST

This is an archived avalanche forecast and expired on 01/05/2019 at midnight.

The Bottom Line

Slopes holding large areas of wind drifted snow could produce an avalanche from a human trigger today. Warming may ultimately contribute to human triggered avalanches being likely in these recently formed wind slabs. The Headwall of Tuckerman Ravine holds the largest of these slabs and therefore has CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger. All other areas have MODERATEavalanche danger, with the Northern Gullies of Huntington Ravine as the one exception with LOW avalanche danger. Be mindful that the soft snow that you will likely be drawn to is today’s avalanche problem in most of our terrain.

Forecast Area

Mountain Weather

Several hours of sustained 70 mph W wind yesterday morning has slowly decreased to the current 35 mph. Wind today will continue to diminish, ultimately to around 10 mph on the higher summits. Tonight wind will remain calm from the SW before shifting NW and ramping back up. Minimal precipitation occurred yesterday and none is expected today. Partly cloudy skies this morning should become increasingly cloudy through the day. It’s currently 25F on the summit and temperatures should push above freezing in all of our terrain. Tomorrow brings a chance at 1-3 inches of snow falling on our typical strong NW winds.

Primary Avalanche Problem – Wind Slab

Wind Slab

Aspect/Elevation

Likelihood

Size

Wind slab that formed since Thursday should remain reactive to a human trigger today. Warming today may increase the likelihood of a human triggered avalanche. Areas of this slab do vary significantly in size. Terrain with smaller and thinner pockets will present a more manageable avalanche problem than places where the slabs are large and possibly several feet thick. Realize that today’s danger ratings are based primarily on potential size of an avalanche, and that a small avalanche in the wrong place can be a big deal.

What is a Windslab Avalanche?

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

The multiple recent melt freeze events have created robust crusts that keep our stability concerns focused on snow which has fallen and been wind transported since Monday night. Terrain with a significant upwind fetch area for wind loading, like Tuckerman Ravine, have large areas of new wind slab that may be quite thick. The wind slab formed since Thursday tends to be cohesive and often layered over less cohesive snow. This poor structure was touchy yesterday and is likely present in large and small slabs alike. Wind has also scoured to crust in many locations across many aspects, though the crust appears bright white and can be difficult to visually identify. A solid partner and dialed snowpack evaluation skills will be essential to managing the current avalanche problem and scoring good turns.

Additional Concerns

The Sherburne and Gulf of Slides ski trails are snow covered to Pinkham Notch.

Safe travel in avalanche terrain requires training and experience. This forecast is just one tool to help you make your own decisions in avalanche terrain. You control your own risk by choosing where, when, and how you travel.

Avalanche danger may change when actual weather differs from the higher summits forecast.

For more information contact the US Forest Service Snow Rangers, AMC visitor services staff at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, or the caretakers at Hermit Lake Shelters or seasonally at the Harvard Cabin (generally December 1 through March 31). The Mount Washington Ski Patrol is also available on spring weekends.

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This website is provided through a partnership between the White Mountain National Forest and the White Mountain Avalanche Education Foundation. The avalanche forecast applies only to backcountry areas, not operating ski areas, and describes general avalanche conditions which vary locally. The avalanche information provided is the sole responsibility of the USDA Forest Service.